LETTER: Traffic troubles on McFarland increase

Wednesday

Aug 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Dear Editor: I have to ask what is wrong with drivers in Tuscaloosa. Have you forgotten the rules of the road?

Eric LewisCottondale

Dear Editor: I have to ask what is wrong with drivers in Tuscaloosa. Have you forgotten the rules of the road? Red yield signs mean stop until clear, stop means stop, and blocking the intersection is against the law in any state. Yellow does not mean block the intersection, it means clear it, or don’t enter if you don’t have the room. However, this is exactly what is happening. There are four major intersections where this problem is: McFarland Boulevard and Interstate 59/20, Hargrove Road, University Mall crossing into Midtown Village and Walmart on Skyland Boulevard. This weekend was the worst. Folks would just block the intersection, I sat through four light changes on McFarland and the Checkers restaurant, due to people being rude and blocking the intersection despite the light being red for their direction.Where was the Tuscaloosa Police Department? They could have written more than 38 tickets for blocking the intersection and another 58 for running the red light. Also there was almost a road rage incident as two folks actually got out of their cars yelling at each other. TPD has cameras downtown that monitor the traffic. Meanwhile, there was a wreck on McFarland down from the light that we had all the issues with. There were police units working on that wreck. Where was the rest of TPD? It needs to do a better job helping with heavy traffic flow and outright violations.